St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-28
PASSED AWAY.
Thomas A. Harrison, President Of the
Security Bank, Is Dead.
MINNESOTA PIONEER.
The Record Of Useful Life--.A Million
aire Who Gave Literally to
Good Causes.

The death of Mr.. Thomas A. Harri-
terday morning, was not altogether
unexpected, as the previous announce
ment of his alarming condition had in
measure prepared the public mind for
the sad news. Nevertheless his demise
will be in the nature of shock, eS-
pecially to that portion of the COM
murity which has lived to see Minneap-
oils grow from village to a city and
had learned to respect him as one of
the leaders in the effort to promote the
best interests of society. While con-
sentative man, who devoted himself
largely to his business, he was possessed
of public spirit that always responded
generously to the support of public en-
terprises and charitable, religious and
educational institutions. The general
sorrow and regret with which the news
of his death was received yesterday at
tests the esteem in which he was held.
He is survived by son, Wallace Har-
rison; two daughters, Mrs. Sadie Nj.
Knight and Mrs. DR.. f. Is. Zier; a
brother, q. III. Harrison, and two sisters.
Mrs. A. III. Goheen and Mrs. Olive Green,
Mr.. Harrison did not possess a robust
constitution, and twOy years ago while on
Southern trip suffered a severe at
tack of typhO-malarial fever, which
preceptibly undermined his cOnstitu-
ton. Since then he has suffered severely
from a pulmonary affection, and only
this fall went to New York to seek the
advice of DR.. LOOMS. He was told that
he must not pass another winter in
Minnesota, and had fully intended
going to California. On his return trip
to Minneapolis over the Lake Shore road
about two weeks ago the train upon
which he was riding passed through
terrible wind storm, and he caught
cold which undoubtedly caused his
death from pulmonary catarrh. The
arrangements for the funeral are not
yet complete. but it is decided that it
shall take place from his residence next
Sunday afternoon, at2 o'clock. His son
arrived on the evening train last night
from Kansas, where he has been spend
ing the summer.
Thomas: Asbury Harrison was born in
Belleville. st. Clair county, Illinois, Dec. 1s,
1911, and would have been seyentysiX
years of age at his next birthday. In the
early times of his childhood in Southern
Illinois there were no colleges, and had there
been, he could not have attended them. He
was emphatieallv self-educated and self
made man When a mere boy he was en-
gagged with his father in flour milling, and
canal merchandise, which, they car
to Minneapolis in June, 1860. His
first investments in Minnesota were in city
real estate and farms and pine lands, and in
bank firm in st. Paul under the direction or
the late Horace Thompson, OF that city. In
1868 he formed a business connection with
his brothers and sisters and Joseph Dean, I'M
der the name of j. Dean d Co., engaging in
the manufacture of lumber on an extensive
L. t;n ,,,il1 1otn hNy
Camp & Walker, and the Pacific mills, FORM
erly located at the intersection of Bassett's
creek with the Mississippi river, were built
by j. Dean & Co. In 1852 the building now
Nicollet avenues, occupied by Gale & Co.,
known as Harrison hall, was built by the
Harrisons. The land on which it is located
then cost $3o per front foot and the build
ing itself was relatively as important to the
little town of 5000 people as the West hotel
now is to the city of 10000. Along in the
seventies he became connected with the
State National bank, and was subsequently
made its president. When this institution
was wound up, after career of mismanage-
ment which began long before
his connection with it, he simply assumed all
of its liabilities and paid them, thus saving
every stakeholder and depositor from loss.
The history of the Security bank, organized
in 1873 of which he was president from the
beginning, is well known to the citizens of
Minneapolis and the state. His face was
familiar one to all business men, and to all
those who had business connections with the
bank.
In public and private affairs he YVES both
generous and unostentatious. He contrib
uted very heavily to all the Methodist
churches in the city, and to many outside of
this city and state; and to many churches
other than the Methodist Hamline univer-
sity has been favorite object of his benef-
cent assistance. He was the largest contrib
utor to the building of Centenary and Henne
pin avenue NJ. E. churches and TO Hamline
university.
In railway enterprises he was connected as
a principal stakeholder and director in the
Minnesota Central NOW Milwaukee d st.
Paul. and the st. Paul d Sioux City now the
Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis 4 Omaha)
railroads. 1t is presumed that his estate will
amount to 81 100000.